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In a world that moves so fast, I find the best fall traditions are the simple ones – like a slow cooker full of apple cider gently simmering on the counter. It fills the house with that cozy mix of sweet apples, spice, and citrus that feels like childhood and home all at once. By the time it’s ready, the whole place feels warm and welcoming, and there’s always someone asking for “just one more mug.”
Why we love it
- Smells like fall in a slow cooker. As it simmers, the apple, citrus and spices fill the whole house with warm, cozy aroma – like a natural candle, but better. It tastes sweet and warmly spiced without being too heavy.
- Effortless AND customizable. Toss everything in the slow cooker and forget it – swap juices, adjust sweetness, or make stovetop if needed. It’s easy, festive, and the kind of recipe that quietly becomes a family favorite every fall and holiday season!
- Perfect for gatherings (or a quiet night in). Serve it at Thanksgiving, a fall party, or just keep it warm for after-school mugs on chilly evenings.
This is the kind of cozy tradition that makes your home feel warm, welcoming, and full of seasonal joy!
Printable recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider (or unfiltered apple juice)
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 lemon (juice only)
- 4 tablespoons Hot Apple Cider Spice Mix (see notes)
To serve:
- apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks
Tips
- No spice mix? No problem. Use 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon each ground cloves and ground nutmeg instead.
- Slow cooker or stovetop — both work! Simmer for 20-30 minutes over low heat in a large pot on the stove. I just found the crock pot to be super convenient if you don’t have stovetop space available, want to keep the cider warm for your guests or simply love coming home to the smell of comfort and joy.
- Easy to scale. Make a single mug or fill the biggest crockpot you own for a holiday crowd!
- Use good-quality cider or unfiltered juice for the richest flavor. Or try cranberry, pear, or a blend with orange juice for a festive twist!
Instructions
- Prep:For this recipe, a 4-6 quart slow cooker works best. If you double it, use a 7-8 quart slow cooker. If you halve it, a 2-3 quart slow cooker is fine.Get your ingredients ready.
- Add everything to the slow cooker:Pour in the apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir in the spice mix (or the sugar + cinnamon + cloves + nutmeg blend).Tip: Using whole spices or a spice bag makes it easy to remove later, but ground works too!
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours.This gently infuses the flavors and makes your whole house smell amazing.Tip: Need it sooner? Cook on HIGH for 1½–2 hours.
- Keep warm for serving:Once it’s done, switch the slow cooker to “warm” for up to 2 hours so guests (or kids!) can ladle a cup anytimeTip: Add orange/apple slices and cinnamon sticks right before serving so they look fresh.
Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider
make your kitchen smell like home?Hot apple cider questions answered
This cider is perfect for prepping ahead. You can make it up to 2 days in advance and store it in the fridge – just reheat it gently on the stove or in the slow cooker.
You can store leftovers for 2 days in the fridge, too.
Classic warm spices work best! Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice are traditional.
I use a cozy spice mix (or whole cinnamon sticks) to keep it simple. You can also add fresh ginger or star anise for extra depth.
If you want a grown-up version, add a splash to each mug (don’t cook the alcohol in or it will cook off). Delicious options:
➢ Bourbon (warm + caramel flavor)
➢ Dark or spiced rum (sweet and cozy)
➢ Brandy (classic holiday choice)
➢ Whiskey (for a stronger kick)
Yes! After it simmers, just switch your slow cooker to the “warm” setting for up to 2 hours. This is perfect for parties, holidays, or trick-or-treat night. Stir occasionally so the spices stay mixed in!
Apple cider (or unfiltered apple juice) is the base.
Hot apple cider is the prepared drink – gently heated with spices, citrus, and sweetener until the flavor becomes warm, cozy, and infused. Think of it as “mulled” cider.
Perfect to serve with
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Deloris says
Absolutely love the flavor! How do you get everything to dissolve without all the residue?Looks a little messy as an individual serving.
Nora says
Deloris, it just does look a little messy. If you boil the mix with the apple cider for a minute, it helps a little. And a natural/cloudy apple juice will hide it more vs a clear one. Hope this helps!
Sara says
What is the recipe for an individual serving?
Nora says
Hi Sara, you can either make a jar of the spice mix and then just add 1-2 teaspoons to a cup of hot juice. If you don’t want to make the entire jar of spice mix, I would recommend just sprinkling a few spices and some sugar into the hot juice, it’s really hard to scale down. Hope that helps!